Listen30 May 2012
CHINA
The Plight of Adoptive Mothers
In SOS Children's Village, a charity specializing in foster care, the "mother" plays a crucial role. Every village is composed of many families, with seven or eight children to a home. Hermann Gmeiner, an Austrian philanthropist, founded the organization in 1949 to give children a chance to be raised in families, so that the orphans could enjoy a mother's love and family warmth and thus grow up healthily and happily.
Gmeiner made a list of requirements for each prospective mother: they must be unmarried, divorced, or widows. They can have no children of their own, and divorced women cannot have custody of their kids. To be an SOS mother is to make a commitment to being single or having no child, and agree to remain in the state for life.
After the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949, the Chinese Government decided that the state should play a major role in taking care of the country's orphans. A lot of babies were abandoned at that time and state-owned welfare houses across the country were responsible for raising children.
In the past decade, however, the concept of foster care has spread and become more popular in China. The first SOS Children's Village in the country was set up in 1984, and since then the number of such villages has increased.
Each SOS Children's Village in China is composed of 12 to 18 families, with a mother taking care of the children as they grow to become siblings. Each village has a head (male), who plays the role of father. Every village has kindergartens, youth's flats and flats for retired mothers.
According to statistics released by the China Association for SOS Children's Village at the end of 2011, China villages had fostered about 2,300 orphans. Half of them have already left the village to enter society; more than 300 children are college graduates; and one third of them had graduated from technical schools. They have gone on to be civil servants, businessmen and servicemen, proving to make a positive contribution to society in different ways.
However, running an adoption community is not always a smooth operation. Children's employment and housing proves to be a bottleneck for the village. Recently, some villages have offered many job openings for adoptive mothers, but few applied. SOS villages are in desperate need of mothers, or some children might again face the heartbreak of losing a mother's love. Many potential applicants are deterred by the strict relationship standards, low pay and a difficult life after retiring.
The SOS children's villages in China are in need of
not only huge donations from the whole society, but also the arrival of
a large number of devoted, caring, selfless people, who may sustain this
wonderful cause forever.
Editorial, Beijing Review
31 May 2012
http://www.bjreview.com.cn/print/txt/2012-05/28/content_455544.htm
___
28 May 2012
NEW ZEALAND
Extra support for vulnerable youth
Hon Paula Bennett, Minister for Social Development:
Budget 2012 includes an $18.3 million investment over the next four years in mental health and other services for children and young people, Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says.
“Young people can be among our most vulnerable and need specific support to address their needs,” she says. “I’m pleased to be putting more funding into mental health services for young people, including youth workers and One-Stop Shops.”
Twelve youth-focused One-Stop Shops will deliver a range of health and social services around the country. This funding will boost these services to meet the demand of mild to moderate mental health issues.
Budget 2012 operating funding from Vote Social Development for youth mental health includes:
• Youth One-Stop Shops
($600,000 in 2012/13).
• Mental health information and support for families and parents ($1
million over four years).
• Mental health youth workers in secondary schools ($8.7 million over
four years).
• The Social Media Innovations Fund ($2 million over four years).
• Support for vulnerable children ($6 million over four years).
“We know it makes a difference for young people to be able to go to a youth worker in their own school to get support,” Mrs Bennett says.
“Youth One-Stop Shops are an important part of the picture because they provide a trusted place for young people to go to for health and social needs.”
The Ministry of Social Development will also administer a new contestable fund for non-government organisations to get information to parents, families and friends who are worried about young people.
“Parents, families and friends are usually the first to identify mental health issues in a young person they are close to. It’s vital they know what to do and how to support them,” Mrs Bennett says.
“We’ve also recognised young people live in a tech-savvy world and it’s time we lifted our game to keep up with the kids.”
The Social Media Innovations Fund will help service providers use social media to reach young people with mental health issues.
The Government will also step up protection of vulnerable children through better data matching and information sharing.
“The Government’s White Paper on vulnerable children
will be released later this year and will be largely funded through
Budget 2013, but there are some things we can do now,” Mrs Bennett says.
Funding of $6 million over four years will allow the groundwork to begin with some of the more complex work requiring systems changes like information sharing.
“This Government continues to put children and young people at the centre of decision-making, which is driving a focus on services that will make a real difference,” Mrs Bennett says.
Press Release: New Zealand Government
24 May 2012
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1205/S00431/extra-support-for-vulnerable-youth.htm
___
25 May 2012
PHILIPPINES
De La Salle University inaugurates child-friendly
facilities
for Manila’s youth
De La Salle University’s Center for Social Concern and Action (COSCA),
in cooperation with the local government of Manila, recently inaugurated
“child-friendly” facilities for the youth-at-risk and their families
living in Manila’s Barangay 704, Zone 77.
Launched last March 3, the initiative is aimed at providing services and
amenities that respond to the basic rights and needs of children,
particularly those from DLSU’s partner communities. The new facilities
include an academic tutorial or lecture room, a mini-library service, a
day care center and playpen for children, and computer tutorial
services.
Students and staff of DLSU along with barangay officials volunteered to
rebuild the second and third floors of the barangay hall and convert the
space into a classroom, a computer laboratory, and a mini-library.
Several community engagement projects were launched along with the
opening of the facility. The first project is the Computer Literacy
Project Supporting Child-Friendly Skills Education Program for children
between 9 to17 years old. Thirty children from the barangay are given
basic computer lessons and are taught by DLSU students from the College
of Computer Science every Saturday for a month.
Another project is the i-Teach: Supporting Child-Friendly Values
Education Program that is conducted for children between 5 to 7 years
old. Members of the DLSU University Student Government and student
volunteers of the College of Education hold day care type of activities,
which are designed for values formation. Also held every Saturday, the
class teaches 30 kids from the barangay.
One more ongoing project is the installation and maintenance of the
community based mini-library for the benefit of all children below 17
years old. The mini-library contains books relevant to the subjects
being taught to the kids. The book collection was organized in
partnership with the DLSU Library. To make this project sustainable,
regular training is being conducted to teach the people in the barangay
on how to properly take care of the books and how to systematically
monitor the books being borrowed.
Representatives of DLSU and the Manila local government graced the
inauguration. DLSU President and Chancellor Br. Narciso Erguiza, Jr. FSC
led them along with Atty. Analyn T. Marcelo-Buan from the Manila
Barangay Bureau, and Barangay 704 Zone 77 Officer in-charge Digna
Pascua.
Press release from De La Salle University
24 May 2012
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/259225/cbb/dlsu-inaugurates-child-friendly-facilities-for-manilas-youth
___
23 May 2012
NEW ZEALAND
Publication profiles one-third of Auckland’s population
Auckland Council’s inaugural Children and Young People in Auckland publication highlights the opportunities and challenges faced by the demographic group, which makes up one-third of Auckland’s population.
The new report, which will be launched this week and highlights the opportunities and challenges faced by the region’s youth, complements the Auckland Plan’s focus on this group. It includes contributions from the likes of Judge Andrew Becroft, Principal Youth Court Judge, the Office of the Children’s Commissioner, the Muslim Youth Advisory Council, Rainbow Youth and Parent & Family Resource Centre.
“The publication highlights the diversity of Auckland’s children and young people and the challenges and opportunities they, and their families, face in contemporary Auckland,” says Auckland Council senior social researcher, Dr Carina Meares.
“Although many of our children and young people are healthy, happy and excited about their future, too many of Auckland’s children live in poor circumstances, have poor health outcomes and their families have limited choices and opportunities,” says Dr Meares.
“All children and young people need safe, stable and loving family environments, warm homes, active engagement and participation in education, connections with good friends, wholesome involvement in their local communities, and a sense of safety and belonging,” she says.
The 2006 census counted 288,573 children aged up to 14 years and 198,477 aged between 15 and 24 living in Auckland – more than a third of the Auckland population and a third of all children and young people in New Zealand.
Auckland Council will develop a Children and Young People’s Action Plan by the end of 2012, which will identify priority areas and actions.
The report is available on the Auckland Council
website
here:
Media Release
22 May 2012
___
18 May 2012
MICHIGAN
Bill on youth concussion awareness clears Senate
committee
The state's Senate Health Policy Committee has approved legislation requiring youth sports organizations, including schools, to adopt a concussion awareness program.
Sen. John Proos, R-St. Joseph, sponsored the bill.
"The number of children suffering concussions during organized athletic activity is rising at an alarming rate and is impacting the lives of many young people throughout Michigan and nationwide," Proos said in a press release. "This program would help everyone involved recognize concussions and brain injuries when they occur and put in place guidelines for when a young athlete can play again after suffering a concussion."
Under the bill, all organizing entities that offer youth athletics would have to adhere to a concussion awareness program that includes awareness training, distribution of educational materials for parents and athletes and criteria for the removal of a youth from physical activity.
The NFL is leading an effort to get similar legislation passed in all 50 states and by Congress. Detroit Lions team president Tom Lewand testified in support of the bill.
"What the NFL and the Detroit Lions are working to establish is a standard of care across the country, so that youth athletes, coaches and volunteers are knowledgeable enough to recognize the signs of concussion and kids get the medical attention they need to recover before returning to play," Lewand said in a press release.
The bill also states that a coach, adult volunteer or individual acting on behalf of the organizing entity must immediately remove a youth from physical activity who is suspected of sustaining a concussion. It also states the youth may not return until he or she has been evaluated by a health professional and receives written clearance.
Similar legislation has been introduced in the state House of Representatives.
If approved, Michigan would become the 36th state to pass legislation to require young sport agencies to establish a set of concussion awareness guidelines.
Report
19 May 2012
http://www.heraldpalladium.com/articles/2012/05/19/sports/10020747.txt
___
16 May 2012
TASMANIA
Responding to the Select Committee on Child Protection
The Minister for Children, Michelle O’Byrne, said Tasmania will see a whole-of-government response to a whole-of-community issue in the wake of the Select Committee on Child Protection’s final report.
Ms O’Byrne said the Tasmanian Government Response released today, Sharing Responsibility for Our Children, Young People and their Families, sets out how the Committee’s recommendations will be used to continue to improve services.
“We all have a responsibility to do everything we can to ensure Tasmania’s children are nurtured, educated and protected,” she said.
“Looking after children is a whole-of-community job and the provision of services in support of that is a whole-of-government responsibility.
“The excellent work of the Committee will help us as we continue to improve every service we offer to children, young people and their families.”
Ms O’Byrne said the most important element of the response was the commitment to the public health approach to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.
“This is in line with the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children, which states that Australia must ‘move away from seeing protecting children merely as a response to abuse and neglect to one of promoting the safety and wellbeing of children’.
“Child protection is a vital, demanding and challenging role of Government and it will always attract the greatest attention but it is not all that we do for children and young people.
“We will always strive to improve those crucial services. It is important that our reforms in child protection are part of a bigger picture.
“Our response sets out a structure that will allow us to implement reforms not just in Children and Youth Services, but also Alcohol and Drug Services, Mental Health Services, the Departments of Education, Justice, Police and Emergency Management and the non-government sector.”
Ms O’Byrne said the Committee’s report was the 13th report into child protection completed since 2005, adding 176 recommendations to the 429 already put forward.
Of those 176 recommendations:
81 are consistent with current policy
54 have been accepted and will be actioned
13 have been accepted in-principle
25 have been noted and will be taken into consideration when
implementing accepted recommendations
3 have not been accepted
“We will address the recommendations, including those from previous reports, in six action areas to ensure that we are taking a strategic approach rather than simply marking off a check-list of things to do.
“These areas are System Reform, Building Relationships, Legislative Framework, Accountability, Out of Home Care and Professional Development.
“Overseeing this all, and ensuring that it is in line with the Agenda for Children and Young People, Our Children, Our Young People, Our Future, launched in July last year, will be a new Cabinet Sub-committee.”
Ms O’Byrne said:
Recommendation 60 was not accepted because a
review had recently been carried out regarding costs and reimbursements
for foster carers and another review was unnecessary.
Recommendation 66 was not accepted because the Government did not
believe statutory authorities should become involved in families without
due cause.
Recommendation 78 was not accepted because overseeing the performance
and activities of government agencies is inconsistent with the
Commissioner for Children’s legislated role and function.
Visit www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/ofc/ for a copy of Sharing Responsibility for Our Children, Young People and their Families: Government Embracing Change in Response to the Select Committee on Child Protection Final Report 2011.
___
14 May 2012
Centre for Youth Development
and Mentoring Services receives
ground-breaking grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation
to assist new Canadian children succeed
In an innovative partnership, the Children's Aid Foundation and the Children's Aid Society of Toronto have secured a three year funding commitment from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to be granted to The Centre for Youth Development and Mentoring Services (CYDMS). Local MPP Laura Albanese and Bahadur Madhani, the Chair of the Ontario Trillium Foundation's Toronto Grant Review Team were on hand Friday evening at York Humber High School to congratulate the organizations involved with the initiative.
"I am very pleased that the Centre for Youth Development and Mentoring Services has a three year funding commitment from the Ontario Trillium Foundation," said Laura Albanese, MPP York South-Weston. "This group offers the type of free academic and athletic focussed programs that the youth of York South-Weston need and deserve. The Centre for Youth Development and Mentoring Services brings the type of community minded leadership that will help to make our area an even greater place to grow."
Based in the west end of Toronto, CYDMS will now be able to expand its tutoring, mentoring, recreation and parent support programming to reach more new Canadians. The grant ensures that those families and youth that live in the Weston and Etobicoke areas of Toronto will continue to have access to helpful and meaningful services and programs in their community, aimed at ensuring that their children and youth have a place to turn for free academic assistance and athletic involvement.
"The Centre for Youth Development and Mentoring Services was built on the premise that leadership on social issues is a shared responsibility and an obligation. Through the youth that come into our programs, our goal is to make our city and the world a better place," said Sadiq Ali Hashi, Chairman, Centre for Youth Development and Mentoring Services. "We could never have dreamed of the success we've had without the support of our partners the Children's Aid Foundation, the Children's Aid Society of Toronto and our funder, the Ontario Trillium Foundation," added Abdi'qani Mohamed, Executive Director, Centre for Youth Development and Mentoring Services.
"I am impressed by the selfless enthusiasm and single-minded commitment that the leaders of the CYDMS bring to this project," said Len Gamache, President of the Children's Aid Foundation. "Having operated until now on a shoestring – using their own funds – it is a pleasure for us to be able to help provide the fundraising and grant stewardship that will allow them to extend their programming to more youth in need of academic counselling and recreation opportunities."
___
A leading grant maker in Canada, the Ontario Trillium Foundation strengthens the capacity of the voluntary sector through investments in community-based initiatives. An agency of the Government of Ontario, OTF builds healthy and vibrant communities. For more information, please visit: www.otf.ca
Press release: CNW
11 May 2012
___
11 May 2012
New Survey: Campaigns to Get Children Outdoors Make Progress
The 2011 Children & Nature Network (C&NN) survey of grassroots leaders of regional, statewide and provincial campaigns shows a three-fold increase in the number of children and youth getting outdoors in nature from 2009 to 2011—from one million to three million annually.
The Children & Nature Network (C&NN) today released the results of its latest survey to track the growth of the children and nature movement. Reported in USA Today in November 2007, “A back-to-nature movement to reconnect children with the outdoors is burgeoning nationwide.” This latest survey with data from 2011 provides additional support for that statement.
Reasons for the growth and urgency of this movement include the epidemic of childhood obesity, reports of diminished creativity, increases in behavior disorders, increased time using electronic media, and sedentary behavior among children and youth—all of which are associated with reduced time for learning and play outdoors in nature as a part of children’s everyday lives. Research indicates that children tend to be healthier, happier and smarter when direct experiences in nature are a frequent and regular part of their childhood.
Compared to baseline results established in 2009, the Children & Nature Network 2011 Grassroots Leadership Survey shows significant increases in the numbers of children and youth getting outdoors in nature as a result of the efforts of the Network and its members, including regional, statewide and provincial campaigns to connect children, families and communities to nature. Commissioned by C&NN with funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the survey results are analyzed and reported by an independent evaluator, Dr. Lynette Fleming.
Leaders of these campaigns reported that the number of children and youth annually engaged in nature-based outdoor activities and experiences has tripled since 2009 to an estimated 3 million youth in 2011. In 2011, C&NN campaigns and partners reported engaging up to 1.2 million underserved youth in community garden projects (up from 176,600 in 2009); 856,000 in natural play areas (up from 316,1000 in 2009); and 1.6 million in school gardens/habitat projects (up from 401,500 in 2009). Among the many findings, survey participants report increased:
awareness of the importance of nature for children’s healthy development,
participation by pediatricians and health care providers,
educational benefits,
community support, and
development of places to play and learn outdoors in nature.
Seventy-eight campaigns completed the 2011 survey. As of May 10, 2012, there are 103 campaigns registered on the C&NN web site.
“While we still have much work to do to reverse the trends of the last 30 years in which children are increasingly sedentary and disconnected from playing and learning in nature, this progress is exciting and an indication of momentum,” said Cheryl Charles, Ph.D., President and CEO of the Children & Nature Network.
“These findings are encouraging, including the increase in the number of underserved youth who are having nature-based play and learning experiences. However, barriers remain, and some are growing,” said Richard Louv, C&NN co-founder and Chairman Emeritus. “As of 2008, more people in the world live in cities than in rural areas. So we need a broader, deeper movement – one that transforms cities into incubators of biodiversity and human health. This movement isn’t about going back to nature; it’s about going forward to nature. Every child needs nature, not only those whose parents love the outdoors.”
Louv and Charles praised the young people, parents, grandparents, physicians, teachers, community leaders, urban planners and others leading the international movement to reduce what, in his book “Last Child in the Woods,” Louv called “our society’s nature-deficit disorder.”
Since its founding in 2006, The Children & Nature Network has been advocating for children, their families and communities to enhance their health and well-being through direct experiences in nature. C&NN’s vision is a world in which all children play, learn and grow with nature in their everyday lives. The Children & Nature Network is leading a movement to connect all children, their families and communities to nature through innovative ideas, evidence-based resources and tools, broad-based collaboration and support of grassroots leadership. C&NN provides a wide range of research and user-friendly tools, including those to enhance positive family bonding and access to fun, friendly nature-based activities. For more information see: http://www.childrenandnature.org/ and participate in C&NN’s community site, http://www.childrenandnature.ning.com.
To see the full Survey Report : http://www.childrenandnature.org/downloads/C&NNGrassrootsSurvey2011.pdf
Press release: PR Web
10 May 23012
http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb9489140.htm
___
9 May 2012
CANADA
Children's Hospital of
Eastern Ontario Comments on New Strategy
from the Mental Health Commission of Canada
The Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) commends today's release of Changing Directions, Changing Lives: The Mental Health Strategy for Canada by the Mental Health Commission of Canada.
In particular, CHEO applauds the call for increased investment, system change, and the promotion of mental health across a person's lifespan to prevent mental illness and suicide wherever possible.
"The need has never been more urgent for investment in mental health, nor has the timing been more right," said Alex Munter, chief executive officer of CHEO. "As one of the largest providers of child and youth mental health services in Ontario, CHEO has a front row seat for what has been a very significant change. We are seeing unprecedented demand for our services and a significant increase in the seriousness of the cases."
For instance, in the last two years alone, CHEO has seen a 50 percent increase in the number of crisis visits to its emergency department.
"The current system is not equipped to handle this surge. As a society, we need to do things differently, invest differently, and organize differently," said Munter. "But we are very optimistic that things are poised to change."
The Mental Health Strategy for Canada is an opportunity to focus mental health resources where they can make the greatest difference – with children and youth. More than 70 percent of adults living with mental illness and addictions had their disorders begin as young people. And, the Strategy suitably identifies key risk factors such as childhood trauma, social isolation, substance abuse, and having a parent with a mental health problem.
"Tomorrow starts right here. With early intervention and treatment, we can change the entire trajectory of young people's lives – forever altering both their physical and mental health as well as their life expectations," said Munter. "Get mental health right for children and youth, and you'll get it right across the lifespan."
"This new Strategy is also an opportunity to motivate service providers and government at all levels to deliver a coordinated and integrated approach to mental healthcare – helping reduce service overlaps and gaps, and making it easier for patients and families to get the help they need," Munter said.
CHEO mental health services span the full spectrum of children and youth up to the age of 18. CHEO provides both hospital and community-based services ranging from prevention to treatment. Provincially, CHEO has more pediatric mental health admissions than any other hospital in Ontario.
Press release: marketwire
8 May 2012
___
7 May 2012
CANADA
Toronto Child and Youth Workers to receive Krista Sepp Memorial Award
Ontario's finest Child and Youth Workers will be honoured at the 21st annual Krista Sepp Memorial Award Celebration Luncheon on Friday, May 4th at the Richmond Country Club.
On the eve of Children's Mental Health Week (May 6-12, 2012), non-profit organizations dedicated to helping children and youth in Ontario will gather to recognize this year's nominees and recipients.
The Honourable Tracy MacCharles, MPP for Pickering -Scarborough East and Assistant to the Minister of Child and Youth Services, will be in attendance to greet the honourees and participate in the celebration. A total of 28 child and youth workers were nominated by their peers from across Ontario for the Krista Sepp Memorial Award this year. Nominations were received from across all child-serving sectors including children's mental health, child welfare, youth justice, education and health.
The Krista Sepp Memorial Award was established by Kinark in 1991 to honour the memory of Krista Sepp, who lost her life on February 3, 1989, while performing her duties as a child and youth counselor. Each year, the Krista Sepp Memorial Awards are held to recognize the high quality work and dedication of child and youth counselors/workers from across Ontario. Gillian Rowney of Hincks-Dellcrest Centre is the recipient of the 2012 Horizon Award, which recognizes the work of a Child and Youth Worker with no more than five years of experience working in the field. Working within a classroom, Rowney is responsible for implementing the school program's educational component and implementing a variety of therapeutic programming.
This year's Mentoring Award recipient is Bree Brown of the Hincks-Dellcrest Centre. The Mentoring Award recognizes the ongoing contributions of direct service staff with more than five years of experience. Recently celebrating her tenth anniversary, Brown provides direct support for the safety of the teens and implements daily programs, while coordinating staff.
Press release: Canada Newswire
3 May 2012
___
4 May 2012
NEW YORK Late Friday at the 45th Session of the United Nations Commission on Population and Development (CPD), member states issued a bold resolution in support of young people’s sexual and reproductive health and human rights.
This victory comes on the heels of a UNICEF report released this week highlighting the challenges the largest-ever generation of young people face – including HIV/AIDS, violence and unintended pregnancy – and reaffirms international agreements including the 1994 United Nations International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action (ICPD).
“This CPD is one of the most important events to take place – to talk about young people, for young people and with young people,” said Kgomotso Papo, speaking on behalf of the South African Delegation during the closing plenary. “We must remove all barriers that compromise the health, well-being and development of youth; and ensure the right of every individual to autonomous decision making in regards to their bodies, their health and their sexual relationships. On these points, there can be no compromise.”
Key points of the final resolution include:
• The right of young people to decide on all matters related to their
sexuality
• Access to sexual and reproductive health services, including safe
abortion where legal, that respect confidentiality and do not
discriminate
• The right of youth to comprehensive sexuality education
• Protection and promotion of young people’s right to control their
sexuality free from violence, discrimination and coercion
Much has changed since the landmark ICPD conference. Shifting global health funding, a maturing HIV epidemic, and the rise of the largest-ever generation of youth have all impacted the current sexual and reproductive health and rights landscape. Similarly, several key global processes—a twenty year review of global sustainable development goals (Rio +20), a twenty-year review of progress towards achieving the Cairo Programme of Action (ICPD+20), and a review of the Millennium Development Goals—are happening within the next few years, all with implications on the future of the global sexual and reproductive health and rights agenda.
“At this time of global uncertainty, there is no more important investment to be made,” said IPPF Director-General Tewodros Melesse. “Only healthy young people whose human rights are protected can be fully productive workers and effective participants in their country's political processes. Only when young people are healthy and empowered can they contribute to building strong communities and vibrant nations. At IPPF, we are committed to working at the individual, community, regional and international levels to secure the health and rights of the largest-ever generation of youth.”
In closing the session, Commission Chairperson Ambassador Hasan Kleib (Indonesia) called on member states to realize these agreements at the national level, stating that “we now have to walk the walk.”
Information from: Indian Committee of Youth
Organizations (ICYO)
3 May 2012
___
2 May 2012
Colombia: Salesian Missions Provides Recommended Services for "At Risk" Youth Highlighted in New Watchlist Report
Salesian Missions responds to a new report on "Children and Armed Conflict in Colombia" from Watchlist, a network of international non-governmental organizations that researches and disseminates information with the aim to protect children in war zones. Salesian programs are in alignment with the recommendations outlined in the Watchlist report.
Salesian Missions responds to a new report on "Children and Armed Conflict in Colombia" from Watchlist, a network of international non-governmental organizations that researches and disseminates information with the aim to protect children in war zones. The report was released in April 2012.
“Children should not have to face the perils of war. But in many countries around the globe, children—both boys and girls—are recruited by force to fight ongoing battles in their homelands,” says Father Mark Hyde, director of Salesian Missions. “They are subjected to sexual violence, psychological and physical harm and even death. In Colombia and many other countries, Salesians have developed programs to assist these children.”
These programs are in alignment with the recommendations outlined in the Watchlist report.
The report noted that, “More than half of an estimated 3.9 to 5.3 million internally displaced people in Colombia are under 18, rendering them even more vulnerable to the threats that caused them to flee their homes in the first place.” Children in Colombia have been subjected to forced recruitment as child soldiers, sexual violence and rape, physical harm and death. Furthermore, they have been denied humanitarian assistance.
Education is at risk in Colombia. According to the report, schools have been used for military purposes. The national armed forces have occupied school buildings or camped nearby. Instead of being a refuge and a place for learning, schools have been utilized as a method of recruitment. In response, guerrilla groups have planted land mines around the schools without recording their locations, preventing children from attending school altogether.
Teachers are under attack as well. The report detailed that according to the teacher’s union in Colombia, “between 1991 and 2011, 871 teachers were killed, about 3,000 threatened, 1,070 forcibly displaced, and 60 reported missing.”
“Without education, youth cannot advance their lives and break the cycle of poverty, adds Fr. Mark. “They end up on the streets even more vulnerable to forced recruitment and physical harm.”
The report goes beyond just identifying the severity of the problems facing children in Colombia. It also provides a series of recommendations to governments, NGOs and donors to help support youth and alleviate their suffering.
For nonprofit organizations like Salesian Missions—that have a long standing investment in humanitarian work in Colombia—the report suggests they should offer pyscho-social assistance and income-generating activities for children formerly associated with armed groups. They also recommend providing survivors of sexual violence, particularly in rural areas, adequate psycho-social, medical and legal care and support.
The report also suggests that programs should offer flexible schooling to allow children from rural areas, poor backgrounds, and those who were internally displaced an opportunity to continue to attend school by adapting the times and curriculum to meet their needs.
The report’s recommendations are work the Salesians know all too well.
“The Salesians have been working with youth in Colombia for more than 40 years,” says Father Mark Hyde. “We have built schools in places that previously lacked access to education – like the remote village of Condoto. We provide services to homeless children at Don Bosco City in Medellin as well as focus on critical psycho-social and educational services to displaced youth in refugee camps across the country.”
Don Bosco City in Medellin is one of the oldest and largest programs for street children in Latin America. Beginning in 1965, Don Bosco City has served 83,000 boys and girls. It began in 1965 with 125 children, and today serves more than 1,500 children, youth and families per year. The program serves both boys and girls and goes beyond traditional homeless shelters by providing a three-stage program, culminating in vocational training.
“Through this model of education and rehabilitation, youth are able to learn the skills needed to support themselves and break the cycle of poverty,” says Fr. Hyde.
In Bogota, an internationally-recognized program helps street children overcome challenges – from where to find a nutritious meal to how to pursue an education and find a job. Through the Children of the Street program from the Salesians Youth Service Foundation, instructors who were once street children themselves provide the support and stability needed for at-risk children and youth to rebuild their lives.
With Salesian efforts that focus on providing educational opportunities to children and youth, students in refugee camps learn valuable job skills which will not only provide income, but also reduce the likelihood they will be recruited as child soldiers. More than 70 percent of graduating students are placed in jobs through Salesian Missions partnerships with community organizations and private sector companies.
“No matter the program or population of youth we serve in Colombia, our aim is always to provide market-driven technical vocational training, preventive and curative health treatment, and counseling services,” explained Fr. Hyde. “Our goal is to help alleviate current traumas and provide a foundation of supports and education that will assist youth in years to come and enable them to provide for themselves and their communities.”
ABOUT SALESIAN MISSIONS
Salesian Missions is headquartered in New Rochelle, NY, and is part of the Don Bosco Network—a worldwide federation of Salesian NGOs. The mission of the U.S.-based nonprofit Catholic organization is to raise funds for international programs that serve youth and families in poor communities around the globe. The Salesian missionaries are made up of priests, brothers and sisters, as well as laypeople—all dedicated to caring for poor children throughout the world in more than 130 countries and helping young people become self-sufficient by learning a trade that will help them gain employment. To date, more than 3 million youth have received services funded by Salesian Missions. These services and programs are provided to children regardless of race or religion. For more information, go to http://www.SalesianMissions.org or http://www.MissionNewswire.org.
Press release: PRWeb
1 May 2012
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/4/prweb9458921.htm
___
